Controlling mechanism.



E. R. HEWITT.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

RENEWED SEPT.

APPLIGATIQ'H FILED MAY 2, 1907 Patented Sept. 15, 1914..

INVENTO Mad fwd/- BY ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES;

Par FFlCE.

EDWARD B. HEWITT, OF BINGWOOD, NEW JERSEY,

COMZANY', 03 NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNOB T0 HEWITT MOTOR A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

C611 TEl'lL'LING MECHANISM.

Application filed Kay 2, 1807, Serial I50. $71,457.

specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented Sept. 15., 1914. seems September isfieos. Serial No. 517,91s.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l', EDWARD R. HEWITT, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Ringwood, in the county of Rissaic, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Controlling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates tocontrolling mechanism, and more particularly to means for retarding rotary motion by clutching or braking, and has for its object to provide a more efficient, durable and ellective construction than has been heretofore known for similar purposes.

cerned with the conhtruction of clutch or brake operating mechanism and while I ma apply it in a variety of ways, forms or combinations I have illustrated one embodiment in the accompanying drawings hereunto annexed and forming a part hereof, in which f Figure 1 is a plan view, partly diagram- I matic, of an automobile showing controlling 1 connections with the speed varying mechanism. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in eleval tion of the member which directly operates the clutch or brake mechanism. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the transmission mechanism and the operating or controlling connections.

In these drawings 1 have illustrated the application of my invention to an automoile provided ith a transmission mechanism which inbludes holding or brake bands subject to greavstrains and wear, and re quiring nicety of adjustment and reliability in operation. The transmission is controlled by the operator of the automobile through levers or foot pedals and linkage therefrom to a rocker shaft engaging with the brakeband operating rods.

In the structure illustrating one embodiment of my invention A is a rotating drum mounted on a sh it B and encircled by a band C. The shaft B and drum A are duplicated in the same mechanism, and which, as illustrated, is the usual-planetary system of variable speed mechanism. In this system theshaft is directly or indirectly connected with an engine 1 shown in Fig. 1, and another shaft passes from the mechanism to a jack-shaft 2, the engine transmission and jack-shaft being mounted My invention is more particularly con-I transmission on a frame 3, which is supported in the usual way on wheels, the whole being driven by connections from the jack-shaft to the adjacent wheels. To vary or control the speed of the vehicle the rotation of the drums A in the transmission mechanism must be resisted. This is efiected by the band C which is anchored at its middle by the lug D and bolt d, latter being engaged with the lug and secured to a portion of the frame of the vehicle adjacent to the transmission. A spring E is preferably disposed between the lug D and the fixed part of the frame to give a yielding support for the band C at one point. On 1: e opposite or open side of the brake-band C, one end F is anchored to a rigid part of the frame of the vehicle, while the other end G is free to be moved to and from the anchored of the free end G is effected. by a rod G which passes through said free end of the band and is provided with nuts H which abut against the under-face of the band. A spring J surrounds the operating rod G between the two ends of the brake-band and tends to hold the ends in spaced relationship. The rod G is mounted in a substantially vertical position and held therein by a bearing in the fixed end of the band 0 through which the rod passes. The upper end'of the operating rod G is fastened into or has attached to it a head K with an internal cam aperture K through which passes an oscillating rod L having an arm 'M slotted at its end and carrying in the slot a roller N. The oscillating rod L is supported on bearings attached to a fixedpart of the frame proper, while one end may be supported in a lug O integral with the brake-band and in close "proximity to vthe stationary end thereof. This rod L has an integral or otherwise rigidly secured arm P to which is attached an operating rod R, the other extremity of which is in operative connection with a foot pedal 8 mounted for limited oscillation on a rock shaft T, the latter being mounted in bearings or fixed to a rigid portion of the frame of the vehicle end F. The movement whereby it is maintained in fixed relationship with the rocker shaft L.

For the second brakeband adjacent to the band Qjust described, a duplication of 0p- =eratingpartsf is used; the control of which is etl'ectcd by a pedal S adjacent to the pedal S, operating through a rod R corresponding to the above described rod R, whereby the entire control of the mechanism is brought within convenient reach of the operator when on the drivers seat.

moves the arm M from its extreme lateral position in the internal cam opening toward its vertical position. Owing to the angularity of the arm in its lateral position with respect to the operatii'lg rod G, the vertical displacement of the operating rod Gr for each degree of rotation of the rocker shaft L is greatest at the beginning of the application of the brake-band. This initial quick action takes up all the slack in the brake, bringing it rapidly toward the drum A. \Vheri in contact with the drum A a slippage occurs until the pressure between the two surfaces is increased to the necessary amount. This increased pressure involves only the slightest movement of the members as compared with the initial application of the brake, and, owin to the particular form of the internal cam opening, the requirement of excessive pressure is at a time when the actuating arm M has closely approached the vertical or final position, so that the further movement of the operating pedals S or S effects little actual movement in the brake operating rod, but, on the contrary, alfords, in'view of the relation of the parts, the most effective leverage conditions for increasing the pressure.

In another respect the actuation of the brake operating m chanism is particularly advantageous, namely in preserving the aliniancnt of the brake-band parts at all times during their appllcal'ion or release. This will be understood when considering that the rod Ur, being fixedly secured at. its lower end in the free end of the brakeband, passes through a long bearing in the stationary end of the brakeband. In ordinary constructions this would result in cramping or twisting out of plane the brakeband parts. In a structure embodying my invention, the dilliculties just mentioned are lation may be insured by the close fit of the rocker-shaft in the lower portion of the opening K in the head of the rod G.

hen the lHuliQdJzlml is released and the operating arm M is in off position, the op.- erating head K drops down under the aclion ol the spring .l'. while immediately after tl e application ot' the brake-band has commenced. the head is raised and in its upward movement the lower portion of the opening with it parallel sides is in engagement with the tired rocker shaft 'L in the parallel-sided portion at the base ofne opening. p

Tn niylm'efcrred t'qrm I construct the brake-band of a single. piece, since .I can thcreby'ul'ili' ic the =la ilClly of the metal to some extent to release the band from the clutch. I prefer, hmveier, to use additional releasing means: such as the spring J which is made of sufiirient strength and size to positively expand the brake-band when the operating pedal S is released.

The operating pedal or pedals may also be restored to their off position by springs suitably connected. While the first eil'ect of the expanding of the springJ is to throw the lower half of the brake-band away from the brake drum, there is a C06 eration with the yielding anchorage of the ug D on the spring I), so that the spring E will press the lug I) upward as soon astthe spring J has moved the free end of the brake-baud suiiiciently, whereby the action of the spring it] releases the upper half of the brake-band from the drum. This combination of releasing spring, fixed anchorage and yielding an- ('horagc enables me to efi'ect an absolute disengagement of the drum and brake-baud, and at the.saine time avoidance of drag can'be eli'ected with a. smaller amount of clearance bet ween the band and drum in the off position than has heretofore been possible. This advantageous feature of the construction is, however, aided and in many cases may be due entirely to the combination with the particular anchorage system, of the means heretofore described for operating the brake. A small clearance in other actuating means which would tend to twist or laterally move the brake-band, would cause a drag, and consequently necessitate an increasing of the. clearance. \Yilh the small clearance which is made possible by thesnsc of my invention, it becomes nee essary to accurately adjust theband ith relationv to the drum and the fitted points oi attachment. The -a.nch0rage of the lu'uli'w bands shownin the particular form illustrated is peculiarly adapted to facilitate 4 with the utmost facility and accuracy. It

will furthermore be seen that my anchorage system for the brake-band is such that upon application of the brake the giving with its shaft and associated parts are not strained out of alinement.

. lVhile I have shown my invention as embodied in one particular structure, it will be understood that various modifications may be made in form or material, and also that the adaptation of my invention may be in connection with various other apparatuses without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. -In combination in a brake or clutch operating mechanism, a brake-band having a free end and a fixed end, an operating rod in operative engagement with the free end, the fixed end cooperating with the rod as a guide therefor, and means for actuating said operating rod, said means cotiperating with the rod as a second and positive guide to hold the same against lateral and twisting movement whereby the alinement of the parts of the brake-band is preserved.

2. In combination in a brake or clutch operating mechanism, a brake-band having a fixed end, and a free end, an operating rod in operative engagement with the free end and provided with a cam aperture, and a rocker shaft mounted in fixed relation to the fixed end of the brake-band, and cooperating with said aperture to insure a true axial movement of the operating rod.

3. In combination in a brake or clutch operating mechanism, a brakeband having a fixed end and a free end, an operating rod in operative engagement with the free end and provided with a cam aperture, and a -'rocker shaft mounted in fixed relation to the fixed end of the brake-band and cooperating with said aperture to actuate the operating rod and insure a true axial movement thereof.

4. In combination in a brake or clutch operating mechanism, a brake-band having a free end and a fixed end, an operating rod "in operative engagement with the free end and means for actuating said operating rod, said means cooperating with the rod as a positive guide therefor to insure true axial movement thereof. 7

5. The combination in a controlling mechanism of a brake-band having a fixed end, a free end and a yielding support intermediate the ends, an operating rod opera tively connected to the free end and provided with a cam opening, a rocker arm cooperating With the cam opening to actuate the operating rod, the arm being disposed to give quick initial movement oi the operating rod and slow final movement with proportionate greater leverage.

6. The combination in a controlling mechanism, of a brake-band having a fixed end and a free end, an operating rod operatively connected to the free end and provided with a cam opening and a lower portion provided with parallel sides, a rocker shaft coiiperating with the parallel sides to form a guide for the rod, and a rocker arm mounted on the rocker shaft and cooperating with the cam opening to actuate the operating rod.

7. The combination in a mechanism for controlling cooperating rotary parts, of an operating rod provided with an opening having a cam surface formed on its periphcry, a rocker arm in operative engagement with the cam surface, and means to oscillate said rocker arm including an operating lever operatively connected thereto, the rocker arm being disposed to impart variable displacement to the operating rod upon uniform actuation of the operating lever.

8. The combination in a mechanism for controlling cooperating rotary parts of a brake-band, an operating rod therefor provided with an opening having a cam surface 'formed on the periphery, a rocker arm in operative enga ement with the cam surface, a rocker shaft on which the rocker arm is carried, a bearing carried by the brakeband in which said rocker shaft is mounted, said bearing being independent of the connection between the brake-band and the operating rod, and means to oscillate said rocker arm including an operating lever operatively connected thereto, the rocker arm being disposed to impart variable displacement. to the operating rod upon uniform actuation of the operating lever.

9. In combination with a rotary member, means to brake the same including a brakeband having a fixed end and a free end, operating levers therefor mounted to oscillate about an axis substantially at right angles to the axis of the rotary member, a rocker shaft substantially mounted in parallelism with the axis of oscillation of the operating lever, an operating rod operatively connected to the brake-band, means to insure true axial movement of said rod along a line at right angles to the axis of the rocker shaft and in the plane of the brake-band, and a bearin for said rocker shaft in fixed relation to t e stationary end of the brake-band.

10. In combination in a brake-band having a mid and a yielding support intermediate the ends, a rocker shaft having its axis substantially in the plane of the brake-band, a

a brake mechanism,

fixed end and a free bearing for the rocker shaft on the brakebzmd adpcent the fixed end, means connectmg operatlvely the rocker shaft and the br-Like-band and means to actuate the rocker' In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speclficution at the borough of Manhattan, city and State of New York, on

the 30th day of Apn'l, 1907, in the presence r of two subscribing Witnesses.

. EDNVARD R. HEWITT Witnesses Hmrmmzx F. CUNPZ, GEORGE A. VARD. 

